Holder for fishing poles and rods



Nov. 14, 1950 Filed Dec. 17,

L. C. PHALEN HOLDER FOR FISHING POLES AND RODS Inventor L55 CZ IFTON PHA'LEN @Mwow- Patented Nov. 14, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT); OFFICE HOLDER FOR FISHINGTPOLES AND RODS;

Lee Clifton Phalen, a nife, 1 re'. 7 Application December 17, 1946, seal s 716,866 a 1 Claim. (o1.- 248 -42) or on-the seat of a boat, whichevermethod of use'is preferred.

Other objects, features, and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following A description .and the accompanying illustrative handling of fishing poles, fly rods, casting rods or trolling rods.

An object of the invention is to provide a structure in which the parts designed for purposeful utility are such as to combine and coordinate their purposes and functions in the provision of a holder possessed of unusual simplicity, durability, ruggedness and adaptable convertibility whether used on shore or a boat.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pole and rod holder which is practical for use on a boat or dock, as the case may be, the construction being such that whichever rod is used at the time is securely and constantly held in its properly established position, thus permitting the user to have both hands free to attend to miscellaneous boat chores or tackle mending and handling, this while substantially eliminating breakage, loss or injury to the fishing rod. Likewise, and in connection with this aspect of the invention, when the holder is employed for trolling, the trolling rod is held in the holder, thus leaving both hands of the user free to operate oars, to regulate and control a powering motor, or to do whatever else may be required at the time.

A further object of the invention is to provide a practicable and expedient pole and rod holder of the class described which is such in construction as to enable it to be employed in connection with a stake for ready and convenient bank or shore-lin fishing, the feature of adaptability, in this connection, permitting the entire length of the pole to be utilized by anchoring the stake on the edge of the bank.

A still further object of the invention pertains to the provision of a simplified and reliable holder, the construction of which is such that the rod or pole may be tilted and held in place at any angle desired, readily removed and replaced in keeping with the conditions met at the time, there being a single, readily available bolt and nut means to control and establish the changing of angle In carrying out the preferred principles of the invention, I provide a novel structural adaptation characterized by a substantially U-shaped fixture, this being the rod holder proper, said fixture constituting a cradle for the rod, and being detachably and adjustably connected with a second substantially L-shaped fixture or bracket, the latter being such as to permit the structure, as a unit, to be effectively employed for river bank or lake shore fishing, to be fastened on the gunwale of a boat, on a hand rail on a dock, on the edge of a dock floor, on the deck of a boat,

drawing. V 1 a Inthe accompanying sheet of drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like elements and parts throughout the views: Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a holder constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, the same illustrating the use of a casting rod in connection therewith, and the manner in which said holder is connected to l a stake for river bank andlake shore fishing.

Figure 2 is. a perspective view of said holder and used from the gunwale or other stock part-of I aboat. V

Figure 3 is another perspective view, this at a different angle, the same showing the manner in which the holder is set up for use on the seat (deck of a boat or edge of a dock floor) or when otherwise similarly installed for use from a relatively stationary part. I

'Figure 4 is an .exploded perspective view showing the principal part of the holder and including the shore or bank stake.

Reference being had to Figure 4, in which the parts are separated and detailed, it will be seen that the primary fixture 6 is of general U-shaped form and constitutes a cradle-like holder for the fishing rod A (see Fig. 1). The fixture shown is constructed from strap or equivalent metal, the intermediate portion of the bight, the part I, being substantially vertically disposed. The end portions of said bight are laterally and axially twisted, as at 8 and 9, to incorporate strength and alsoto properly situate the upstanding forward,

and rear end portions) and l I. Referring again to the part I, it will be seen that it is provided witha central square aperture or hole l2 and a surrounding knurled or otherwise rough-milled surface I 3-. While considering this phase, it is to be noted'that a carriage bolt 14 is employed, the shank l5 being adaptedto pass through the hole I2, the square portion l6 of the head I! being adapted to fit non-rotatably into said hole. A winged thumb nut I8 is employed in conjunction with the bolt for assembling and adjusting purposes.

Theextreme upper end of the arm or end portion i0 is formed with a notchl9 providing a keeper seat for the adjacent portion of the pole or rod. This is rubber-surfaced, as at 20, to effectively seat and protect the rod. At the opposite end, the upper end portion of the arm II is bent upon itself to provide a down-bent hook 2| which is engageable with the grip of the rod A in the manner shown in Figure 1.

, -As before indicated, the U-shaped bracketor limb 25 is provided with selectively usable holes 26 and 21, respectively.

The aforementioned bank or shore stake is' denoted by the numeral 28, the same being of appropriate proportions and having its lower end pointed, as at 29, to penetrate the shore when the stake is vertically anchored. The upper end of the stake is provided with outstanding detents 3,0 which constitute stop elements and which assist in seating the bracket 22 on the stake, as shown in Figure 1. In this connection, the opening 2,! in the limb 25 is employed and the bracket 22 is thus swivelly and detachably mounted on the stake. It is therefore possible to rotate the entire holder in a substantially horizontal plane to point the rod in the desired direction. Likewise the cradle or bracket 6 may be independently adjusted to vary the angularity of the rod, this as is obvious.

Any suitable type of a clamp 3| (see Fig. 2') may be employed for convenient attachment of the holder to the gunwale .or other part of a boat. In Figure 2, I have shown a simple, inverted U-clamp provided with a set-screw 32. The apertured limb permits the hole 26 to be used to accommodate a bolt and nut assembly 33 for attaching the bracket 22 to the clamp 3 I.

When fishing from a boat or dock, the L-bracket 22 is fastened by means .of a screw ,or any suitable commercial clamp which allows the holder to be set in any direction desired.

When fishing from a bank, the bank rod is pressed down vertically into the earth; then the bracket and holder is placed onto the bank stake, which will rest on the stop lugs 30. This allows the holder to be established and set in any direction desired.

For fishing from a boat or dock, one or more fishing rods can be conveniently used inasmuch as the rod holder holds each rod securely and always in proper position. This condition allows the user to have both hands free to do any necessary boat chores or tackle mending without danger of injuring, breaking or losing the fishing rods. For trolling, the trolling rod is placed in rod holder, thus leaving the user with both hands free to operate the oars or motor.

For bank fishing, a number of fishing poles can be used, as each holder securely holds the pole in proper position. Also, this rod holder permits the entire length of pole to be utilized, as the rod holder can be placed at the edge of the bank. Immediate release of the fishing rod from the rod holder is effected by the user, yet if a strike or bite by a large fish is made or the hook becomes snagged under water, the rod holder will securely hold the fishing rod in place.

When boat fishing is finished for the day, the rod holder can be transferred from the boat to the bank stake on the bank and the fishingrod with live bait can be transferred to the rod holder and left out over night for a possible night catch.

It is evident that the invention is a structure of superior utility and serviceability, will withstand rough usage and is patterned to trimness and simplicity in construction. The individual parts are of simplified form and they are connected in such a way as to render the complete structure substantially foolproof and easy to handle. Due to the convertibility, the holder is 4 locatable on choice sites, such as on either a moving craft or land, as the requirements of the situation demand. The holder provides poise and balance for the rod and the parts are designed with purposeful attention to details of elements,

thus distinguishing the structure, from similar devices, unitarily and otherwise.

It is understood that the clamp 3| is a temporary proposition. If it is desired to permanently attach and anchor the bracket 22, the hole 34 (see Fig. 4) is used for that purpose. It may be employed to accommodate a screw or nail, as is obvious. Then, too, the aforementioned arm or end portion [I] is provided with a similar hole 35 which may be employed to accommodate a tie wire for tying the rod in the holder if and when necessary or desired.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it is believed that a clear understanding of the .construction, operation and advantages of the device Will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though I have herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention that the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehendecl by the spirit of the invention as herein described and within the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed as new is:

In a holder for fishing poles and rods, a shore stake comprising a linearly straight rod, said rod being cylindrical in cross sectional form and pointed at its lower end and having shoulderforming lugs at its upper end, said lugs being situated downwardly from the upper extremity of the rod and permitting said latter portion to function as a bracket-adapting spindle, a stamped sheet metal L-shaped bracket embodying a horizontal limb apertured and removably and rotatably mounted on the spindle portion of said rod and in resting contact with said lugs and further including a vertical axially twisted limb portion, and a one-piece stamped metal U- shaped pole holding and cradling fixture having upstanding limbs on opposite ends, one limb having a keeper notch, the other limb having a downturned pole accommodating and retaining hook, the intermediate bight portion of said fixture being separably and hingedly connected to the upper end of the vertical limb of said L- shaped bracket.

LEE CLIFTON PHALEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,258,040 Peaslee Mar. 5, 1918 1,275,928 Huppertz Aug. 13, 1918 1,393,098 Eastman Oct. 11, 1921 2,130,650 Peterson Sept. 20, 1938 2,176,352 McHuron Oct. 17, 1939 2,289,592 Riedi July 14, 1942 2,416,828 I-Iamre Mar. 4, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 26,154 Great Britain 1913 418,078 France Nov. 30, 1910 731,160 France May 24, 1932 

